It’s time for worship

Entertainment Editor Besides partying and lots of fun that will characterise this weekend in Harare, people will also have a platform to worship God through music and dance at the Gospel Greats concert set for Rainbow Towers Gardens on Saturday.

The weekend will indeed be fun-filled as various entertainment events take place on Friday and Saturday.

International artistes Davido, Toni Braxton and Babyface will perform at separate events; the Summer Slam gig takes place at Longcheng Plaza while the annual Cup Clash roars at City Sports Centre on Saturday.

Saturday will be the last day of the ongoing Harare Agricultural Show and the day has always been eventful over the years.

However, besides all the excitement, dancehall clashes and fireworks that light up the closing night of the show, the Gospel Greats concert brings a refreshing alternative.

Children will get into the gospel concert for free, making it an after-party bonus for parents that would have taken their young ones to the final day of the show. Top gospel musicians to perform at the concert include the Charambas, Mechanic Manyeruke, Mathias Mhere, Kudzi Nyakudya, Thembalami and Blessing Shumba.

Rising gospel singers Janet Manyowa and Tyra Chikozho are also on the list that is expected to include a number of surprise appearances by popular gospels stars.

Star FM presenter Leandar Kandiyero will be the host of the show, which shares a title with his “Gospel Greats” programme that he presents every Sunday on radio.

And for Manyeruke and Mhere, the show will be a welcome party after their international tours last week. Mhere performed in the United States while Manyeruke was in the United Kingdom.

Both said their trips were exciting and they should be coming to the show rejuvenated.

“It is good to return home for such a big event after a successful international tour. The United States shows were outstanding and we have learnt a lot. We will be celebrating that success at the Gospel Greats concert and we are ready to stage a memorable act,” said Mhere.

The Charambas have been out of public Harare shows for a couple of months and the show will be a reunion with their legion of fans.

Kudzi’s hymns and popular choruses usually steal the limelight at such functions. Hymns like “Ndonoshamiswa Kwazvo” and “Jerusarema Musha Wangu” are popular with many while his compositions “Emmanuel” and “Gadziriro” are sing-along tracks that usually uplift souls at gospel concerts.

Tembalami brings energy to most events with his danceable hits that usually send people to the dance floor while Shumba’s praise and worship songs have made a mark at most events.

Shumba’s performance at Harare Hardens last weekend proved that the musician still has the power to shake crowds.

He will be coming to Gospel Greats and a guest artiste.

“It is a blessing to stage two shows in Harare within a week. We rarely perform in Harare and this time we have a chance to give our fans the best. Last weekend’s show was good and we are looking forward to a bigger event at Gospel Greats,” said Shumba.

Organisers of the show said the gospel concert would mainly cater for children and show-goers that do not like secular acts.

“Most people organise gigs on the last day of the Agricultural Show to provide entertainment after the show. However, we realised that most promoters were going for secular music and we decided to bring this alternative.

“Those who love gospel music and their children will also have their party after the show. Other gigs do not accommodate children and we feel the gospel concert will close that gap,” said one of the organisers.